The £1bn redevelopment of Bart's and Royal London hospitals will have fewer stories and refurbishment work will be postponed

The £1bn redevelopment of Bart’s and Royal London hospitals is being scaled back, it was revealed today.

Bart’s will now be seven stories high instead of the eight stories originally proposed, as the Bart’s and London NHS Trust bids to save money on the scheme. Some refurbishment work at the Royal London will also be postponed.

The new buildings should be substantially complete by 2012. The rebuilt Royal London will include the trauma and emergency care centre and the capital’s second largest children’s hospital.